Harish Hande (IITK 1990) is one of the two Indians who won the Magsaysay Award, this year. Hande was recognized for bringing solar light to a country where half the households have no power. Harish Hande, 44, was recognized for “his passionate and pragmatic efforts to put solar power technology in the hands of the poor, through a social enterprise that brings customized, affordable, and sustainable electricity to India’s vast rural populace, encouraging the poor to become asset creators.”

Hande, who has obtained his B Tech (Hons) Energy Engineering from IITK (1990), followed by a PhD in Energy Engineering from the University of Massachusetts, works as the managing director and was the co-founder of Solar Electric Light Company (SELCO) India in Bengaluru. The company is a solar electric light company that has lit up over 120,000 households, and has emerged as India’s leading solar technology firm.

Hande is the third IIT alumni to get this award. Dr Kiran Bedi (IITD) and Arvind Kejriwal (IIT KGP) are the other award recipients.